System and method for converting an overhead door into a gate or serving window to facilitate entertainment and other purposes

Abstract

A system is disclosed for converting an overhead door into a gate or serving window, the system having at least two rows of panels spanning the width of the door, one panel located above and adjacent to the other panel, a pair of rails opposite one another and adjacent to the panels, the panels traveling within the rails to move from a closed position to an open position, and at least one hinge connecting the lower row of panels to the upper row of panels, the hinge having an upper half attached to the upper row of panels and a lower half attached to the lower row of panels, the upper and lower halves of the hinge connected by a removable central pin, wherein the upper row of panels moves from the closed position to the open position when the central pin is removed from the hinge.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for converting an overhead door into a serving window, the system comprising:
 at least two rows of panels spanning the width of the door, one panel located above and adjacent to the other panel; 
 a pair of rails opposite one another and adjacent to the panels, the panels traveling within the rails to move from a closed position to an open position; 
 at least one hinge connecting the lower row of panels to the upper row of panels, the hinge having an upper half attached to the upper row of panels and a lower half attached to the lower row of panels; 
 the upper half of the hinge having opposite sides with flared mating portions that are turned outwardly, and the lower half of the hinge having opposite sides with flared mating portions that are turned inwardly, such that the lower half of the hinge fits within the upper half of the hinge, the flared mating portions of the lower hinge nesting within the flared mating portions of the upper hinge; 
 a first pin passing through the mating portions of the upper and lower halves of the hinge when the lower half of the hinge is nested within the upper half of the hinge, the pin locking the upper and lower halves of the hinge together; 
 an aperture in the upper half of the hinge for receiving and stowing the first pin when the first pin is removed from the mating portions of the upper and lower halves of the hinge to unlock the upper half from the lower half of the hinge; 
 a second pin passing through a portion of the lower hinge located proximately beneath the first pin when inserted into the upper and lower halves of the hinge, the second pin configured to engage with one of the rails to lock the lower row of panels to the rail; 
 wherein the upper row of panels moves from the closed position to the open position when the first pin is removed from the hinge and the second pin of the hinge is engaged with the rail. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the lower half of the hinge has a cantilever support member that moves from a stowed vertical position to a horizontal position flush with the top of the lower row of panels. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  further comprising a countertop attached to the cantilever support member, the countertop forming a horizontal surface on top of the lower row of panels when the cantilever support member is placed in the horizontal position. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2  wherein the cantilever support member is braced by a lower support member attached to the lower half of the hinge, the lower support member slidably connected to the cantilever support member and lockable in upright and in stowed positions. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  further comprising an extension spring system to assist the upper row of panels to move from closed to open positions. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5  wherein the extension spring system comprises an extension spring, one end of which is operatively connected to a mounting surface disposed above the overhead door and the opposite end of the extension spring of which is operatively connected to an upper edge of the upper row of panels. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein the extension spring is operatively connected to the upper row of panels via a cable running over one or more pulleys. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one intermediary row of panels positioned between the upper and lower row of panels, the intermediary row of panels having at least one hinge connecting the lower and intermediary row of panels and at least one hinge connected the upper and intermediary row of panels. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8  wherein the lower half of the hinge attached to the upper edge of the intermediary row of panels has a cantilever support member that moves from a stowed vertical position to a horizontal position flush with the top of the intermediary row of panels, and wherein a countertop surface is attached to the cantilever support member to create a horizontal countertop surface on top of the intermediary row of panels when the cantilever support member is in the horizontal position. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a banner operatively connected to the upper row of panels, the banner suspending downward and behind the lower row of panels when the upper row of panels is in the open position. 
     
     
       11. A method for converting an overhead door into a serving window, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least two rows of panels spanning the width of the door, and locating one panel above and adjacent to the other panel; 
 providing a pair of rails opposite one another and adjacent to the panels, the panels traveling within the rails to move from a closed position to an open position; 
 providing at least one hinge connecting the lower row of panels to the upper row of panels, the hinge having an upper half attached to the upper row of panels and a lower half attached to the lower row of panels; and 
 providing the upper half of the hinge with flared mating portions that are turned outwardly; 
 providing the lower half of the hinge with flared mating portions that are turned inwardly, such that the lower half of the hinge fits within the upper half of the hinge, the flared mating portions of the lower hinge nesting within the flared mating portions of the upper hinge; 
 providing a first pin passing through the mating portions of the upper and lower halves of the hinge when the lower half of the hinge is nested within the upper half of the hinge, the pin locking the upper and lower halves of the hinge together; 
 providing an aperture in the upper half of the hinge for receiving and stowing the first pin when the first pin is removed from the mating portions of the upper and lower halves of the hinge to unlock the upper half from the lower half of the hinge; 
 providing a second pin passing through a portion of the lower hinge located proximately beneath the first pin when inserted into the upper and lower halves of the hinge, the second pin configured to engage with one of the rails to lock the lower row of panels to the rail; 
 moving the upper row of panels from the closed position to the open position when the first pin is removed from the hinge and the second pin of the hinge is engaged with the rail, to form a serving window. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the lower half of the hinge has a cantilever support member that moves from a stowed vertical position to a horizontal position flush with the top of the lower row of panels. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of providing a countertop surface attached to the cantilever support member, the countertop forming a horizontal surface on top of the lower row of panels when the cantilever support member is placed in the horizontal position. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  wherein the cantilever support member is braced by a lower support member attached to the lower half of the hinge, the lower support member slidably connected to the cantilever support member and lockable in upright and in stowed positions. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of providing an extension spring system to assist the upper row of panels to move from closed to open positions. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein the extension spring system comprises an extension spring, one end of which is operatively connected to a mounting surface disposed above the overhead door and the opposite end of the extension spring of which is operatively connected to an upper edge of the upper row of panels. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the extension spring is operatively connected to the upper row of panels via a cable running over one or more pulleys. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of providing at least one intermediary row of panels positioned between the upper and lower row of panels, the intermediary row of panels having at least one hinge connecting the lower and intermediary row of panels and at least one hinge connected the upper and intermediary row of panels. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  wherein the lower half of the hinge attached to the upper edge of the intermediary row of panels has a cantilever support member that moves from a stowed vertical position to a horizontal position flush with the top of the intermediary row of panels, and wherein a countertop surface is attached to the cantilever support member to create a horizontal countertop surface on top of the intermediary row of panels when the cantilever support member is in the horizontal position. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of providing a banner operatively connected to the upper row of panels, the banner suspending downward and behind the lower row of panels when the upper row of panels is in the open position.